Everyone who reads Debtbeat knows that I relish in cataloging various Internet scams, questionable business practices and questionable “deals” to make sure that your hard-earned money goes where it should, namely, towards paying off your debt.

With the economy in the toilet, there are more desperate people looking to make a quick buck by victimizing others and yes, more desperate people falling victim by trying to make a quick buck.

In light of this trend, one of my favorite blogs, MSN Money’s Smart Spending, has compiled a list of the top scams of 2009 with hints on how to avoid them.

Curious about what made the list? Here are three.

• Advance-fee loans. Have you seen ads offering to give you a loan, no matter what your credit, but you’ll need to pay a “small fee” upfront? Once they collect the fee, the companies disappear. A legitimate loan doesn’t require a fee upfront; the costs are added to the balance of the loan.
• Check-overpayment schemes. If you’ve ever advertised on Craigslist, you’ve gotten this one. Someone wants to purchase your item and for some reason has to send you a check for more than you’re asking. He wants you to send him a refund for the rest. Of course, the scammer’s check bounces.
• Lottery scams. If you win the lottery, you don’t have to pay upfront to collect your winnings. Beware of letters and e-mails saying you’ve won millions in European, Canadian or Australian lotteries -– but you have to send money to collect.

For the full list and tips on how to avoid these scams, check out the article from MSN and let us know if they’ve missed anything.

And if you think you can’t fall victim to these shenanigans, think again. You may exhibit one of the key signs that you’re not as savvy as you think and which con artists are on the lookout for in a potential mark.